Search This Blog

A Jewel in the Rough

We found another mini-vacation site only 35 miles from where we live. It is the Ladora Bank Bistro, in no other place than Ladora, Iowa, population 286. Proprietors, Brad Erickson and Colleen Klainert purchased the 1920-built “jewel box” style bank and turned it into a bistro of fine wine, phenomenal food and an atmosphere that an old banker loves.

The structure maintains its marble teller windows and the iron teller cages, original wood floors and the two original vaults, now being used as a wine cellar and a kitchen storage closet. Engraved in the wall, next to the 24 foot high ceilings are four pillar statements that warm my heart:

“Frugality is the the Parent of Fortune”

“Integrity in the Companion of Success”

“Wealth is the Achievement of Thrift”

“Diligence is the Mother of Virtue”

On the outside of the bank, above the entrance etched in stone reads “The wealth of this community embodies the richness of her soil, the integrity, frugality and diligence of her people.” On the first visit, Kristy bought me their t-shirt with the sayings.

Colleen and Brad have a great menu of small plated appetizers meant to be shared. Our favorites are the Prosciutto, Maytag Blue Cheese, Stromboli and mini mushroom tart coupled with the California blend Snap Dragon. Colleen is a wine expert and pairs the wine with your taste and food to make the culinary experience extraordinary. We end on either the chocolate covered cherries or the Turtle Minis, both wonderful.

Chocolate, Red wine, a Fortress of old money….is this heaven?

If passing through Iowa or a nearby resident, we invite you can take an afternoon or evening mini vacation and experience the comfort and fun of the Ladora Bank Bistro. Check out the website for the story on the bank, Brad and Colleen, pictures, the menu and hours. Let us know what you think.

Popular posts from this blog

A string of successful Game of Mates speaking events has happened recently -- in Kuranda, Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne. I can't take all the credit. But, James, our bandit in the Game of Mates, can. He has been extremely active all across the land and people are starting to notice.

One issue that has repeatedly come up at these events is the rise of 'strategic representation' of the economic benefits of major projects in planning applications. For example, a land subdivision proposal might include plans for a new university campus, eco-tourism facilities, and more, in order to be able to claim the project will generate billions of dollars of economic benefits to the region. But the reality is often that these additional facilities are completely infeasible and will never happen. They are just included in the application to beef up the claimed merits of the project, for there is no obligation from the approval to follow through with the ful…